Acquisition and Application of Reflectance for Computer-Generated Images: A Critical Review.

In the field of computer graphics, accurate representation of material properties is crucial for rendering realistic imagery. This paper focuses on the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) and its role in determining how materials interact with light. The authors review the state of the art in reflectance measurement systems, with a focus on BRDF and bidirectional texture function (BTF) measurement. They discuss practical limitations in measuring multi-dimensional functions and provide examples of how researchers have addressed these challenges. Additionally, they analyse various approaches to converting measured data into practical analytical functions for use in commercial rendering software, including data-driven methods such as neural networks and hybridized approaches.